Comments on: Interview with ABC Radio

By: Marian

Marian — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:21:54 +0000

I just finished The Writing Class. I LOVED IT!!!! It seems so often these days that I start a book and it’s really difficult to get interested immediately, but not so with this book. From the beginning it grabbed me and held my attention to the very end. On one hand I couldn’t wait to get to the end, but I also didn’t want it to end. The Writing Class was such a pleasure to read.

Perhaps I enjoyed it so much because I can relate in some way to Amy. Bits and pieces of her character remind me of myself. I’m an oldER woman with some of her issues. Oh my God, does that mean I’m depressed?!?! Well, actually… I don’t have a dog, but I do have a husband. That’s like having a pet since you have to feed them and clean up after them. I’m not a writer, just a wannabe. (At least for now.) Perhaps I simply enjoyed it because it is well written.

Each month I go through my mailer from Book of the Month Club. Since I can’t afford the money or space to buy all the books that sound of interest, I keep a list of “Books to Read.” This month two of the books from that list were actually checked in at the library. One of them was The Writing Class. When I read the jacket I was not sure I would enjoy it. It was probably added to my list for being a mystery. A humorous mystery? I decided to give it a try. I’m very glad I did.

I am going to read your other books, and hope that I enjoy them just as much. In the meantime, write more novels please. Thank you for The Writing Class.

By: Xen

Xen — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:32:50 +0000

I stumbled on “The Writing Class” by accident. I am so glad such accidents happen. I have used excerpts from your novel, Amy’s insightful comments about writing, to guide my students’ writing.

By: Jincy

Jincy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:03:25 +0000

Your comments were fine, and my blog (as opposed to Amy’s) isn’t intended to be private, although I’m always surprised (and usually gratified) to hear from the occasional visitor. My blog preceded Amy’s by a couple of years. I used material from my blog at the last minute, basically, to enrich the novel. It was never my intention to use it for anything other than what it is.

Anyway, your comments are clever, and I like your name.

By: Crabby McSlacker

Crabby McSlacker — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:39:56 +0000

The interviewer said: “I’m hoping, I suppose, that there’s not too much autobiography in here…”

Funny, I was hoping the opposite. I thought Amy Gallup was quite an appealing character. What’s wrong with depressed cranky loners, exactly?

So I just finished The Writing Class and enjoyed it very much. But it was a bit surreal reading about “Amy’s” blog. I stumbled upon this blog a couple of years ago, being a big fan of your short stories and of Winner of the National Book Award. (And no, I was not googling “butt frottage,” just your name). I read the posts and even left a few (lame) comments as Jamie McCrabby. So to read “Amy’s” appalled reaction to the unexpected appearance of blog comments was both funny and a bit embarrassing. (Sorry about that; didn’t know the blog was originally intended to be private).

I just wish my comments had been more clever. How cool would it have been to accidentally blunder into the novel of a writer you admire? Alas, no such luck, but it was fun to read a behind-the-scenes account of your blogging adventure.

Looking forward to your next novel or whatever the heck you may be working on.

By: nicholas

nicholas — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:17:10 +0000

Shame they didn’t quite get the joke about ‘Winner…’

ps, I really enjoyed The Writing Class, which is why I’m here.